"Hi, mom! What are you doing outside?" I greeted as I kissed my mother's forehead while hugging her tight. She was standing at the door, waiting for us to arrive home.
"I am so pleased that you're able to make it this time, so I came out to make sure you'll not run away!" mom joked as my friends kissed her on both cheeks.
"Of course. We wouldn't miss the most delicious food in the world," Shane said, acting cute like a young boy. My mom beamed with joy while looking at him.
"Wrong, bro. You have to say, 'the most delicious food in the world cooked by our pretty and kind mom'," Owen added. Luke agreed with enthusiasm. We all laughed.
"Aha! So, you came because of the food, and not because of 'ME'? How encouraging is that?" she sulked with her hands on her waist.
I laughed as I watched them clung to her. "Mom!" they simultaneously exclaimed. "Of course, we miss our loving mother. Our caring and pretty mother!" they cooed.
"Okay~ okay! Enough of your sugar-coated words boys. We'd better get inside before I melt in your praises," she said, pretending to be angry. We went inside with my brothers still filling my mom with sweet words. I shook my head.
Since I introduced my friends to my family, we became close-knitted. They call my parents mom and dad and Sheryl became our young sister.
Considering their family backgrounds, I'd say that I'm the luckiest coz' Luke lost both of his parents in a tragic accident that caused him to move from one relative to another, who were not affectionate towards him. Owen and Shane also came from a broken family. Their parents got in a vicious divorce when their father became abusive to their mother every time they underwent financial pressure.
I am not saying that my family is perfect though. We have a secret of our own, but compared to them, I am way luckier.
We get along well probably because we have more similarities more than differences. Our moms are all from Asia. My mom is a Filipina, Luke's mom is Japanese while the McKnights' mom is Korean.
"How's life going?" dad asked while cutting the chunk of meat on his plate.
"Same. Still handsome and getting rich!" Shane jokingly answered. Dad chuckled. "Still busy, dad. We are planning to expand the resort, so we are looking into some fresh proposals and potential business partners."
"That's good to hear!" dad said.
"Whoah! Mom... your pork adobo is superb!" Luke said while chewing a mouthful of meat.
"What did I tell you, son? Don't talk when your mouth is full," my father scolded. Startled by my father's loud voice, Luke suddenly swallowed the chunk of pork causing him to choke.
Sheryl immediately patted Luke's back worriedly. Then, she turned to our dad with her eyes wide open, "Dad! Let him live at least before our wedding," she shouted. We were flustered and exchanged a look.
There was an awkward silence in the room as we finished eating our dinner. No matter how delicious the food was, they tasted bland. The tension was palpable as we all sat in the living room. Luke's face turned white when dad gave him a cold look.
My father's thunderous voice broke the deafening silence. "Can someone explain what's going on?" he asked, turning to Sheryl who was sitting comfortably like a queen.
Owen spoke, "Dad. maybe~"
"Not you, son!" my dad said while looking at the two.
Luke gulped before speaking, "Dad... I don't know what she's talking about." He looked at Sheryl, giving her a tacit message to explain the situation. She shrugged as she blew her freshly polished fingernails.
After a moment of tense silence, Sheryl spoke lazily, "Dad... you're overreacting. I was just joking!"
"Shy... what's your problem? You even drag Luke into your petty schemes," I told her calmly. I clenched my fists to control my anger. I knew that she's sometimes childish, but I didn't realize that it would come to this extent.
"As if you even care," she said then she rolled her eyes. That's it. I've had enough. I was literally shaking trying so hard not to hurt her in any way. But I lost it. I turned to her and held her shoulders tightly.
"For god's sake! You're already 27 years old so stop acting like a child!" I yelled. My friends tried to calm me down.
"You don't have to shout! I can hear you loud and clear!" she yelled back.
"So... what's this wedding bullshit all about?"
"As you've said...BULLSHIT!"
"Shy... whatever your problem is. Please, tell us. You don't have to drag anyone just to get our attention!"
"Your brother's right. So, please tell us what your problem is," my father told her.
"Yeah~ yeah! I'm wrong and his right! Kuya Brad is always right! Is it because I'm just adopted?" she said while wiping her tears. "Lagi na lang si kuya Brad. He's smarter. He's a better child!" she screamed.
We were all stunned even my father who looked stern was taken aback by her statement. Then, the sound of broken glasses got our attention. We all followed the source of the sound and we saw my mom who went pale staring at Sheryl who was running to her room. She was shaking and on the floor were shattered glasses and spilled lemonade.
"Sheryl," she uttered. Shane helped her sit on the sofa. My mom's really sensitive when it comes to our family, especially to our younger sister.
It was my mom's dream to have a son and a daughter. When I was born, she longed for a daughter to complete her. She was so delighted when she finally became pregnant with a baby girl.
As her due date approached, I could see her excitement to finally hold her daughter in her arms. She even prepared her nursery room full of pink stuff-- her mini barbie world.
Unfortunately, the universe seemed to conspire against her wishes.
A month before she was due to deliver, she had a miscarriage. My mom was devastated by the incident. She cried for days and refused to eat and ended up being hospitalized for days.
As an eight-year-old, it was so painful to see your mother become catatonic due to the loss of her unborn child. But, I tried to understand the situation. I stayed by her side while my father was busy asking for financial help from his family and friends.
Then one day, I saw her vibrant smile again when Sheryl's adoption paper was finally approved. My parents pampered her and gave her the love that she deserves. So, I don't understand why she's acting this way.